Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world.
Gandhi is commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi ("Great Soul", an honourific that was being applied to him by the time he left South Africa for India in 1914 and in India also as Bapu ("Father"). He is known in India as the Father of the Nation; his birthday, 2 October, is commemorated there as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and world-wide as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohandas_Karamchand_Gandhi
